CHANEL Summer 2026
Some would say that the 6th of October of 2025 marked one of the most eagerly awaited events in contemporary fashion history. For several industry insiders, that Autumn Monday is now synonymous with the most important Paris Fashion Week show debut of a promising season, highlighted by a range of new creative director appointments. On that evening, the newest creative director, Matthieu Blazy, presented his first-ever collection for Chanel Spring-Summer 2026.
A total of 77 looks were showcased at the Grand Palais. The iconic palace was one of Karl Lagerfeld’s favourite show locations and a Parisian landmark often associated with the House. After Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel founded and led the brand for over 50 years, Karl Lagerfeld was appointed its creative director in 1983. This new phase happened nearly a decade after Coco’s passing, and continued in the role until his death in 2019.
At the Palais, the catwalk of Chanel Spring-Summer 2026 was transformed into a solar system, representing how universally recognisable the House of Chanel is. Bureau Betak, a production company known for its remarkable fashion show set designs, worked along with Blazy and the brand team to make the ‘Chanel planetarium’ come true.
In case you don’t remember…
Maison Chanel was founded by Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel in 1918. The brand, which started as a hat-making business, was ruled by Gabrielle Chanel until her death in 1971. From 1971 to 1983, the House operated without a permanent creative director, which was changed after Karl Lagerfeld’s appointment. This was a long-lasting tenure that put the brand back into the spotlight from 1983 to 2019. Lagerfeld passed away in 2019, leaving Virginie Viard, design studio director at the time, as his successor. Viard was Chanel’s creative director until 2024, when Matthieu Blazy was offered the job. Before being announced as Chanel’s creative director in December 2024, Blazy was the creative director of the Italian house Bottega Veneta for four years.
The Essence
The first look at Chanel Spring-Summer 2026 gave the audience a glimpse of what was behind the collection. At this show, Blazy’s boldness—and a free hand—was about to shake things up in a heritage house. The 41-year-old French-Belgian designer’s version of the Chanel suit was a set inspired by one of his jacket silhouettes, creating a more masculine, boxy shape. The jacket was paired with matching trousers in a relaxed fit, resembling Gabrielle Chanel’s ideals of comfort and elegance. The set is followed by maxi white earrings and a slouchy variation of the iconic 2.55 handbag. An accessory that, even if opened and crushed, is still recognisable from afar.
Followed by Blazy’s grand opening look, the rest of the collection was developed in three acts, as the designer told Tim Blanks in an exclusive interview for The Business of Fashion. Using an imaginary conversation with Gabrielle Chanel as a starting point, Act One was called ‘Paradox’. This act consisted in exploring the duality of Coco Chanel as both a designer famous for turning traditionally masculine pieces into part of women’s wardrobes and for her strong sense of seductive femininity.
The Chanel codes, such as the camellias, the two-tone pumps, the black jacket, and the skirt suit, are here for Spring-Summer 2026. Additionally, the legendary tweed, of course, was also present this time, but on crafty, artisanal versions of skirts with sexy slits and a dropped waist.
Acts for decades of Legacy…
Interchangeable pieces were a key aspect of act two, as Blazy explained in the same interview. Named ‘Le Jour,’ this part of the show explored a more modern approach to the Maison, with mostly loose-fitting forms. Furthermore, the items present black lines that cleverly pay homage to the packaging of the globally famous Chanel Nº 5 fragrance.
Blazy’s third act, so-called ‘Universal,’ represented, as the name suggests, the global recognition of the brand Chanel. “We are such in a global world. And when it comes to Chanel, it’s so powerful on every continent, it’s like Coca-Cola. Everyone knows Chanel. Maybe we have to understand, not just from our point of view in Paris, but also what story can be told to fit other, different regions,” he told Blanks. Not by chance, this was the most risk-taking part of the show, where warm-toned colour combinations, bigger structures, and flowy, feathery motifs were paired with classic patterns.
The Looks
As the show unveiled through its three chapters, so did its colour palette. Muted tones such as grey, ivory, pale yellow, navy blue, and chocolate brown marked the palette. Additionally, the classic Chanel black and white combo was present, but there was a lot of room for more vibrant hues. To be more precise, the collection offered a range of red, orange, and coral shades. Burgundy was incorporated on tops, skirts, and dresses, with pops of mint green. This creative choice is a conversation starter after Blazy decided to make the colour part of some of the shoes, bags, and even a new tweed pattern. Metallic beige, silver, and gold were also chosen for some of the pieces, as well as an irresistible milky-way satin white.
While deep diving into Gabrielle Chanel’s history, Matthieu Blazy found out a secret… In the past, Coco was a customer of the historic French brand Charvet, known for its high-quality custom-made shirts. He then discovered that Chanel herself used to purchase at the store for her and her partner, Arthur ‘Boy’ Capel. This hint served as an anecdote that inspired Blazy to collaborate with Charvet for his first show.
Seen on the catwalk, the Chanel-Charvet shirts are re-envisioned by Blazy. The key details include the house logo written in a cursive font, reminiscent of Coco’s labels from the 1910s and 1920s, as well as the use of a chain at the hem to add weight and achieve the ideal proportion. Gabrielle Chanel’s passion for natural materials and durable fabrics had its space here. Her passion was equally important for Blazy’s kick-off, seen through jersey and viscose pieces.
And for the last act…
Matthieu Blazy’s first ever Chanel show ended on a high note, with the song ‘Rhythm is a Dancer’, by Snap!. The song of the iconic German Eurodance group of the 80s played at the Palais for the final walk. Precisely, it was at this moment that South Sudanese model Awar Odhiang came to the scene. Wearing a silk top with a big, feather-like, colourful skirt—almost a tweed explosion—Awar became the third Black woman to ever close a Chanel show. This lovely achievement couldn’t hide her joy, expressed through twirling, smiling, and cheering to the crowd. From what it seems, Chanel’s new era in fashion is already becoming legendary.
Shop the Looks
According to Chanel’s official website, pieces from Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel Spring-Summer 2026 ready-to-wear collection will be available for purchase starting in March 2026. Other items from past collections can be found on the brand’s website, in luxury stores, and in Chanel exclusive boutiques. The brand also has a range of beauty and fragrance products, available in multiple outlets.
Talking about that range, it’s worth giving a look into the iconic fragrances of the maison. Number 5 is a must, but there are plenty of options that will fit into your likings and needs. You can access the unique selection by clicking here.
In case you decide to buy through the website, here are some details. For purchase, you need to check if your country has a store of Chanel. This is because Chanel doesn’t deliver in countries with no physical presence. Here you can check the map for all the locations.
Furthermore, if you shop online, you can expect between 3 and 7 business days for the delivery. Of course, the time is strongly related to the location you are living in… In some cases, the time can be less. Nevertheless, if something happens and you don’t like your product, you can return it within 17 days of receiving it. The process of refunding may take 21 days to one month.
See Also…
Words by Ketlyn Araujo. The sources of information and images are from Paris Fashion Week and CHANEL.
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